Supreme Court Ruling Must Be Respected- DUP

DUP Leader Arlene Foster has said the judgement of the Supreme Court, in declaring that the Prime Minister's suspension of Parliament was unlawful, must be respected.

Northern Ireland's political parties have been quick to react to the decision, with the SDLP and Alliance issuing calls for Boris Johnson to resign from 10 Downing Street.

A panel of 11 justices at the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the prorogation of Parliament for five weeks was unlawful, with president Lady Hale saying "the effect on the fundamentals of democracy was extreme".

The decision has compelled MPs to return to the House of Commons for a sitting on Wednesday 25 September.

Ms Foster tweeted that the DUP has "always respected the principle of the separation of powers upon which our constitutional law is founded". Therefore, continued the DUP Leader, "the judgement of the Supreme Court has to be respected".

UUP Leader Robin Swann repeated Ms Foster's comments that the ruling must be upheld and Parliament restored.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill reiterated calls for the Prime Minister to resign following the "melt down moment" for the British Government.

"Boris Johnson must go!" Ms O'Neill tweeted, while warning that the island of Ireland cannot be "collateral damage" in the upcoming Brexit deadline.

Alliance's Naomi Long said the unprecedented decision against the Prime Minister's actions comes after all Parliamentary scrutiny was taken away at a crucial time, and accused him of attempting to stifle debate and silence MPs.

Calling for Mr Johnson's resignation, the newly elected MEP said: "He has pushed our unwritten constitution to its limits and abused his powers. He has proven himself to be unfit for office and his position is now untenable. He must resign immediately."

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood echoed Ms Long's demand, saying that Boris Johnson is unfit for office.

"We know that the Leave campaign lied and cheated during the referendum. Now it's clear that Johnson has lied, cheated and acted unlawfully as Prime Minister," the Foyle MLA said.

"He is unfit for office.

"Full scrutiny of this government and it's plans for a hard Brexit must now be restored and challenged immediately. Johnson must be removed from office and Brexit called to a halt. The best way to do that is through an election. Let people have their say on the actions of this Tory-DUP Government."

Reaction from the Green Party has taken the form of calls for a People's Vote on Brexit as "the only way forward".

"The Prime Minister's capacity for dishonesty and deceit has been demonstrated across his career," Party Leader Clare Bailey commented.

"It's imperative that Parliament is reconvened and all efforts are directed towards preventing a no deal Brexit.

"A People's Vote is the only way forward in the face of this time of constitutional crisis and unprecedented division."



(JG/CM)